Rama Village in Upper Galilee has been the scene to many fights on a religious basis between Druze and Christians. Fights between youngsters involved in drugs and crime become the excuse for druze hooligans to attack Christians, just for the fact that they are Christians. This week, a Missile was hit at the local Catholic Church. Many Christians are asking why the Police cannot defend them in their own homes.

News Item from Ittim, Sunday, Feb 16, 2003

Grace and Truth Congregation has been trying to get a permit to build a church in the Industrial Zone of Rishon Litzion, just south of Tel-Aviv. Ant-Christian Organization Yad LeAchim appealed to Israel's Supreme Court to stop the building.

Special For Come and See, Jan 30, 2003

In recent years, small numbers of Israeli Jews have begun celebrating Christmas, putting up lights in shops and even trees in homes. Chief Rabbi Israel Meir Lau warned that such observances threaten the identity of the Jewish state.

By The Associated Press, Dec 25, 2002

According to archaeologists and Bible Scholars, the ancient bathhouse unearthed beneath a Nazareth souvenir shop owned by Elias Shama dates back to Crusader times and is not, as the shop owner believes, a Roman bath which may have been used by Jesus

By Steve Weizman, Associated Press, Dec 18, 2002

Haaretz, Israel's Elite Paper, writes about Christmas in Bethlehem in its editorial: "Since 1967, the proper conduct of Christmas services in Bethlehem has been proof that Israel jealously protects the rights of religious minorities, and Israel was praised for its ability to make a distinction between the holy places and its security needs.

Apparently, that concept is fading, along with Israel's good name in the world.

Haaretz Editorial, Dec 23, 2002

Shas Party mentor and former chief rabbi Ovadia Yosef accused the non-religious parties of intentionally bringing Christian immigrants to Israel, reports Israel Radio.

Jerusalem Post, Nov 24, 2002

Miles has been performing over the past decade relief work that has matched needy Palestinian Arabs with Israeli Jewish doctors and hospitals willing to offer humanitarian medical treatment.
But, Israel's Interior Ministry was not as sympathetic to Miles' initiatives and his family quickly relocated to nearby Amman while he has been permitted to return to Israel for brief three-to-five-day stints in order to oversee the ongoing work of the humanitarian aid group he founded and still heads.

By Elaine Ruth Fletcher, Religion News Service, Nov 14, 2002

A group of senior Christian clergymen Wednesday refused to undergo humilating security checks at Ben-Gurion Airport and returned to Jerusalem, where they held a press conference to condemn Israel for mistreating them.
The group included Butros Mualem of the Greek Catholic Church in the Galilee, Munib Yunan, the Lutheran Bishop of Jerusalem, Riyah Abu al Assal, Bishop of the Anglican Church in Jerusalem, and Elias Shakour, president of Mar Elias College in Galilee and author of bestseller "Blood Brothers"

By Jerusalem Post, Oct 24, 2002

Earlier this week, a Christian stabbed a Druze to death, both involved in drugs. After the funeral, a group of men attacked homes and cars of Christian residents and ten people were injured.

Many Christians in Galilee feel that they live in danger with no protection.

Special For Come and See, Oct 25, 2002

An inscription in the Aramaic language - "James, son of Joseph, brother of Jesus" - appears on an empty ossuary, a limestone burial box for bones. Scholar dates vessel to 63 A.D.

AP, Oct 22, 2002